| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here 11:15 - Aug 27 with 2392 views | The_Romford_Blue |
Because ‘what if the new owners are worse’. And ‘well you buy the club then’ and ‘well who exactly is going to buy the club’ were actual responses given to justify him slowly killing our football club.
Look at us now.
Fast forward 5 years and we’ve gone up two leagues and are now about to have signed Enciso, Palacios and Abraham in the same transfer window.
Absolutely superb. Gamechanger (and Ashton despite his nonsense off the pitch) deserve a lot of credit.
Europe 2028 has set sail. Next stop - Old Trafford. |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:19 - Aug 27 with 1946 views | JakeITFC |
Yes but that is a results orientated position with the hindsight of the owners being better. Evans, for all of his many, many faults still deserves tremendous credit for the way he managed the transition from his ownership to this current one. For every good EFL takeover there at least five bad ones and we could have faced any number of worse fates. |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:20 - Aug 27 with 1934 views | GavITFC |
The grass isn’t always greener…
But on this occasion it’s blooming lush meadow!!!!! |  |
| Old enough to have seen my team win a final at Wembley, but not lucky enough to have witnessed the great Sir Bobby era. |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:21 - Aug 27 with 1906 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
I reflect on it all the time. Let's not forget when there were a literal handful wanting Evans out, and were shot down whenever we raised it. Even at the point of the GC20 takeover I was being told to be grateful for ME as he 'saved the club'.
Whilst watching a tree grow on the roof.
It really shows just what good owners actually look like. |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:22 - Aug 27 with 1875 views | Reuser_is_God |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:19 - Aug 27 by JakeITFC |
Yes but that is a results orientated position with the hindsight of the owners being better. Evans, for all of his many, many faults still deserves tremendous credit for the way he managed the transition from his ownership to this current one. For every good EFL takeover there at least five bad ones and we could have faced any number of worse fates. |
Although that is the least he could’ve done after the years of neglect. |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:23 - Aug 27 with 1866 views | ThatMuhrenCross |
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
We could easily have ended up with a Dejphon Chansiri/Dai Yongge type, which would have made Evans look like a saint... |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:23 - Aug 27 with 1875 views | TractorJack |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:19 - Aug 27 by JakeITFC |
Yes but that is a results orientated position with the hindsight of the owners being better. Evans, for all of his many, many faults still deserves tremendous credit for the way he managed the transition from his ownership to this current one. For every good EFL takeover there at least five bad ones and we could have faced any number of worse fates. |
Exactly. Evans just dropping us to the first bidder would have been far worse than him plodding along. |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:31 - Aug 27 with 1788 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:23 - Aug 27 by TractorJack |
Exactly. Evans just dropping us to the first bidder would have been far worse than him plodding along. |
Think it needs to be reminded that he almost didn't sell to GC20, and they thought it was dead in the water. | |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:33 - Aug 27 with 1777 views | BlueBadger |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:19 - Aug 27 by JakeITFC |
Yes but that is a results orientated position with the hindsight of the owners being better. Evans, for all of his many, many faults still deserves tremendous credit for the way he managed the transition from his ownership to this current one. For every good EFL takeover there at least five bad ones and we could have faced any number of worse fates. |
'Sure his dog shát all over your carpet, but he DID give you some poo bags'. |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:41 - Aug 27 with 1682 views | J2BLUE |
I remember some proper arguments with people when the takeover was announced. Found it utterly baffling that people were opposed to it because it might go wrong.
I remember saying we're on the Titanic and slowly sinking but you don't want to get on a lifeboat in case it sinks.
Batsh1t times. Nothing is ever without risk but sometimes there is very little to lose. |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:43 - Aug 27 with 1642 views | Reuser_is_God |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:41 - Aug 27 by J2BLUE |
I remember some proper arguments with people when the takeover was announced. Found it utterly baffling that people were opposed to it because it might go wrong.
I remember saying we're on the Titanic and slowly sinking but you don't want to get on a lifeboat in case it sinks.
Batsh1t times. Nothing is ever without risk but sometimes there is very little to lose. |
This reminds me off a comment a friend made during the McCarthy era.
“I don’t reckon Mick has ever had sex without a condom”
It was that risk averse attitude that swept across the fan base during that era, & I only think we’ve started to shake that off this summer. | |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:49 - Aug 27 with 1608 views | Bobbychase |
TBF we got very lucky with these owners. It has gone differently at other clubs |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:51 - Aug 27 with 1592 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:23 - Aug 27 by ThatMuhrenCross |
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
We could easily have ended up with a Dejphon Chansiri/Dai Yongge type, which would have made Evans look like a saint... |
No hindsight about realising Evans was rubbish. It was bleedingly obvious at the time and years before he eventually left. Within a couple of years there were worrying signs of him stripping back club staff and appointing Keane was confirmation he didn’t really understand us. Jewell another disaster with a shambles of a recruitment approach. Nick ok in theory but not backed when he needed to be. Then backing unproven Hirst. It was a mess.
Yes he wrote of the debt and deserves credit for that, yet that has to be balanced against the reason we had the debt: which was his mismanagement.
I agree there are worse owners out there. [Post edited 27 Aug 11:51]
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:53 - Aug 27 with 1549 views | Radlett_blue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:31 - Aug 27 by Cheltenham_Blue |
Think it needs to be reminded that he almost didn't sell to GC20, and they thought it was dead in the water. |
And when some of us heard the words "American consortium" we shuddered. That's still what it is, but by investing & appointing the right manager, we have achieved huge things. But no-one at the time knew what was going to happen. And most of us hadn't heard of McKenna when he was appointed. |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:54 - Aug 27 with 1533 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:49 - Aug 27 by Bobbychase |
TBF we got very lucky with these owners. It has gone differently at other clubs |
But I think that’s a risk with ANY new owner isn’t it?
You don’t know how it will go until they are in.
What’s important is having an owner that is honest with themselves enough to admit that they are managing decline, and then taking active steps to do what’s in the clubs best interest. | |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:55 - Aug 27 with 1520 views | HighgateBlue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:49 - Aug 27 by Bobbychase |
TBF we got very lucky with these owners. It has gone differently at other clubs |
This is true, and to be fair to Evans, he cancelled the debt and ensured that he sold to a well-resourced and professional group. It had been a horrible period of slow decline, but I can't paint Evans as a scoundrel or a disgrace. He spent a bit of cash to start with, was unlucky with the Keane appointment, and then he clammed up with the funding largesse. It still cost millions a season to keep us going, and that came out of his pocket, so although he was out of his depth in footballing terms, I view him in much the same way as a manager who didn't work out. He could have sold to anyone, given that he was writing off the debt, and I'm glad he did right by the club and fans as his final act.
Anyway, onwards and upwards! |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:56 - Aug 27 with 1502 views | BlueandTruesince82 |
We got lucky with our new owners and the biggest thing for Marcus Evans is 1. Doing proper due diligence and not just getting shot of the club ASAP. 2. Writing of the debt.
I dont think such questions at the time were unreasonable snd I think we'd pretty much reached a point where we knew Evans had to go but we should remember there are some real charlatans out there trying to get their hands on a football club, let's just be thankful we didnt end up in their hands.
Charlton a good case in point, how many unpopular owners have they had over the last 15 years? Sheffield Utd at the moment, crazy goings on there, regulator maybe getting involved, this the club that sacked Wilder, spent a fortune on a summer rebuild and had Wilder back in the space of about 3 months and now owes £35m to the previous owner which they thought they'd wriggle out of with a name change and 'ownership transfer'
GC came in with a sensible funding model, mostly gone are the days of a singular rich benefactor owning the club, were very lucky
I sore something earlier this week that 47 of the 72 league clubs are currently up for sale. Funding a club is harder than ever and plenty will come in thinking they can make a quick buck (let's be honest, Evans thought exactly that) and look to get out pretty quickly when they realise how hard it is. At least Evans kept the lights on, should he be praised for doing the bare minimum for about 3/4 of his stewardship of the club? No. Could it have been much, much worse? Yes.
So were we right to have a bit of skepticism? Absolutely, esp after the prior 20 years. Should we be thankful? Damn right we should we are about to (and i still cant belive it will happen until I see its done) to sign a double world cup winner!
Pre game changer our record signings was Sereni for £5m quid, that was pre Evans! So yes let's be thankful, after all we have put up with we deserve it. [Post edited 27 Aug 12:02]
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:56 - Aug 27 with 1500 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:53 - Aug 27 by Radlett_blue |
And when some of us heard the words "American consortium" we shuddered. That's still what it is, but by investing & appointing the right manager, we have achieved huge things. But no-one at the time knew what was going to happen. And most of us hadn't heard of McKenna when he was appointed. |
Ha!
Weird to write almost the same thing at the same time.
Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here by Cheltenham_Blue 27 Aug 11:54But I think that’s a risk with ANY new owner isn’t it?
You don’t know how it will go until they are in.
What’s important is having an owner that is honest with themselves enough to admit that they are managing decline, and then taking active steps to do what’s in the clubs best interest.
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:57 - Aug 27 with 1482 views | BlueBadger |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:53 - Aug 27 by Radlett_blue |
And when some of us heard the words "American consortium" we shuddered. That's still what it is, but by investing & appointing the right manager, we have achieved huge things. But no-one at the time knew what was going to happen. And most of us hadn't heard of McKenna when he was appointed. |
Practically all we knew about KM was how smarmy he was. | |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:10 - Aug 27 with 1353 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:57 - Aug 27 by BlueBadger |
Practically all we knew about KM was how smarmy he was. |
And so unbelievably smarmy that you could notice it within, what?, 5 minutes? of his very first presser. | |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:18 - Aug 27 with 1296 views | catch74 |
I liked the fact Evans kept in the background, unlike some owners. I have to admit to feeling a sorry for him too, he clearly thought he’d buy his way to the Prem quickly but clearly sh@t himself after early expenditure. He realised he wasn’t the big fish in the pond. Tried managers that had already achieved what he wanted - Keane, Jewell and MM all had promoted teams.
Then it just became desperate with Hurst, the bizarre Lambert contract extension.
Plus his final attempt to get back to the Championship - I imagine the idea being to add value to the club before selling.
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:23 - Aug 27 with 1254 views | Smoresy |
Got to be very cautious about these things haven't you, don't let a good man go in a hurry. |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:27 - Aug 27 with 1218 views | Mookamoo |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:18 - Aug 27 by catch74 |
I liked the fact Evans kept in the background, unlike some owners. I have to admit to feeling a sorry for him too, he clearly thought he’d buy his way to the Prem quickly but clearly sh@t himself after early expenditure. He realised he wasn’t the big fish in the pond. Tried managers that had already achieved what he wanted - Keane, Jewell and MM all had promoted teams.
Then it just became desperate with Hurst, the bizarre Lambert contract extension.
Plus his final attempt to get back to the Championship - I imagine the idea being to add value to the club before selling.
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Who the hell was Luke Thomas? |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:46 - Aug 27 with 1112 views | Guthrum |
We as a fanbase have most certainly landed on our feet. However, one should be a little cautious about thinking this was the inevitable result of Evans' departure. It could have been so different if he'd sold to the likes of Chansiri.
Fortunately for us, it seems he wanted to be more careful than that. |  |
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| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 12:52 - Aug 27 with 1065 views | Churchman |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 11:19 - Aug 27 by JakeITFC |
Yes but that is a results orientated position with the hindsight of the owners being better. Evans, for all of his many, many faults still deserves tremendous credit for the way he managed the transition from his ownership to this current one. For every good EFL takeover there at least five bad ones and we could have faced any number of worse fates. |
I was very vocal about wanting Evans out at the time. I’d wanted him gone for years. I always thought he bought the club in the hope of a quick flip. Put a few bob in, wheel in a big name to manage the team, Premier League, profit and away.
Shame for him and us the manager was and is a bonkers blowhard. After that it was sweat the assets and appoint a series of clueless people with one exception. Under his ownership, the club fully deserved to sag into League 1 having stunk out the Championship for years bar a couple. It was heading for League 2 and lower. Possibly bankruptcy and oblivion.
I suspect our saviour Marcus wanted to salvage something from the wreckage. There was nothing to gain by hanging on to it. How much was he personally losing? Given the debt was to himself largely, write offs, the training ground land value, who knows.
How many better bids did Evans turn down to find the right owner? Nobody knows but if I was a betting man I’d guess zero. I think he took the first best offer and would have sold to Jack the Ripper if he’d offered up enough money.
As for ‘what if the new owners are worse’ how could they have been worse? That’s how felt at the time and do now. The club was dying. Had no future whatsoever. Even if Gamechanger had been all mouth and trousers but had given the stadium a clean it’d have been an upgrade.
As it’s turned out the owners have been good to their word and the changes beyond my wildest dreams. All the credit lies with them and those that made it happen. For me, that doesn’t include Evans. |  | | |
| Anyone remember when the idea of #EvansOut was slated on here on 13:18 - Aug 27 with 950 views | Vaughan8 |
Firstly this is in massive hindsight.
Secondly, not all takeovers work out.
A bit like me saying now "I told you that Nsiala was Sh!te" | | | |
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